It's Monday! What are you Reading August 1, 2011?

This meme starts at Book Journey!

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I finished five books again this week. I posted five reviews with two ARC Giveaways and a two book package Giveaway.   As usual, I posted the regular Friday Pick Giveaway; Saturday Sharing Beyond Books, and Sunday posts.

I did some visiting last week but still not as much as I would've liked.  These were last week's posts plus Winner posts not listed.

•  It's Monday What are You Reading? July 25, 2011.

• Book Review and ARC Giveaway: Touch if You Dare by Stephanie Rowe; Paranormal Romance; my rating 4.0. Ends 8/5.

• Book Review: So You Want to Write a Guest Post by Jaime McDougall; How to - Nonfiction; my rating 4.5. 

• Book Review: The Fear Principle by B.A. Chepaitis; Sci Fi; my rating 4.25.

•  Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway July 29, 2011.  Ends 8/4.

• Book Review and Giveaway Package (2 books): The Fear of God by B.A. Chepaitis; Sci Fi; my rating 4.25. Ends 8/12.

• Book Review and ARC Giveaway: A Gentleman Never Tells by Amelia Grey; Historical Romance; my rating 4.5.  Ends 8/12.

• Sharing Beyond Books #7 Comment Giveaway.  Open Worldwide. Ends 8/5.

•  Sunday Words of Encouragement July 31, 2011. 

Finished Reading: 

The Fear of God: Jaguar Series
by B.A. Chepaitis
Review and Two Book Giveaway linked above.

Audible:

One Tuesday Morning

• UNABRIDGED
• by Karen Kingsbury
• Narrated by Full Cast

An interesting story premise.

Sheila at Book Journey and I are going to post reviews together on this later this week.

Print/Kindle:

A Gentleman Never Tells 
by Amelia Grey

Review Plus ARC Giveaway
linked above.

Kindle:

Quest For Magic
by Jean Hart Stewart
 Book FIVE of the series, Songs of the Mages

A very sexy read.

Review to post this week.
Read for Author.

Print:

 
Making Waves

by Tawna Fenske

FUN! 
Review and Author Q&A for August 2.

Reading for Sourcebooks.

(I read two novellas and parts of four others for Judging this week.)

Line Edits/Releases: eTreasures Released
Sword of Virtue 
by Joy Brooks

Description:
Kidnapped as a baby, Jared lives the next twenty years unaware of his royal heritage. Eventually, persecution and torment arrive with the knowledge of his identity. The legendary, Sword of Virtue chooses Jared to wield the power of 100 mages, but Jared must first endure agonizing ordeals to prove he has five of the seven virtues required by the sword. The life he loved destroyed. Jared is thrown into a world far beyond anything he could imagine.
Genre: Fantasy; pages 347.

Currently reading:

Print/Kindle:

Confessions of an Improper Bride (A Donovan Novel)

by Jennifer Haymore

I am just starting this to be ready for the 11th- 

Hachette Review and Giveaway.

Product Description

TWICE TEMPTED

Serena Donovan left London six years ago, her heart broken and her reputation ruined by devilishly handsome Jonathan Dane. Now, with her family's future in peril, she reluctantly agrees to return to England and assume her late twin's identity. The price? Marry a man she doesn't love and spend the rest of her days living a lie.

Jonathan Dane, Earl of Stratford, has become an incorrigible rake, drinking, gambling-and trying to forget Serena Donovan. Yet the moment he's introduced to the prim and proper "Meg", he recognizes the sensual young woman who captured his heart. Haunted by his past mistakes, he refuses to lose Serena again. But convincing her to trust him is no easy task. Claiming his lost love means exposing the truth and destroying the life Serena has sacrificed everything to rebuild. With the future of all the Donovans at stake, and their undying passion capable of triggering yet another scandal, how much will Jonathan and Serena risk for a chance at true love?

Print/Kindle:

The Lady of the Storm 

by Kathryne Kennedy

Product Description
Acclaimed for her world-building, in Kathryne Kennedy's new series love miraculously prevails over strife.
Storm lord's daughter Cecily Sutton's powers over sea and sky have put her life at risk. Giles Beaumont is reluctant to protect her, until he falls under her enchanting spell...

Audio:

Working It Out: A Journey of Love, Loss, and Hope

by Abby Rike

I will finish this audio this week. Wonderful faith. 

Reading For Hachette Review.

Audible:

Blameless: An Alexia Tarabotti Novel

• UNABRIDGED
• by Gail Carriger
• Narrated by Emily Gray

Product Description.
Gail Carriger’s best-selling Parasol Protectorate series reimagines Victorian England with vampires, werewolves, and a dash of steampunk. Blameless is the third in the series starring the parasol-wielding Lady Alexia Maccon, formerly Alexia Tarabotti. After news spreads of her delicate condition—a surprise to everyone since she’s married to a werewolf—Alexia is desperate to escape the London gossip. So she heads to Italy for a change of scenery.

Audio:

[The Vision and Beyond, prophecies fulfilled and still to comeby David Wilkerson was put on hold but I read Chapter 2 this week. ]

Instead we are listening to:

The Screwtape Letters: First Ever Full-cast Dramatization of the Diabolical Classic (Radio Theatre) 

C.S. Lewis

We are enjoying listening to this in our young adult class. On part IV.

I am also listening to The Listener's Bible NIV 

read by Max McLean. I am at 2 Chronicles 24, Isaiah 15 (powerful reading!) and 1 Corinthians 1.

Line Edits: I am editing the second of eTreasures' Prom Night summer YA novellas for release this week.

I am finalizing edits/formatting on Life After the Undead by Pembroke Sinclair; then Soylent Red by Jamieson Wolf.

 

I didn't intend to fill up the month but I guess I did.
August Review Books:
Scheduled:

8/2 Making Waves by Tawna Fenske. Review + Author Q&A. Reading for Sourcebooks
August 2011:
8/6 Letter Perfect by Cathy Marie Hake - Reading for Church Book Club.
8/11 Confessions of an Improper Bride by Jennifer Haymore. Hachette Blog Tour Review and Giveaway.

8/16 The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer - I scheduled this for Heyer's birthday. Reading for Sourcebooks 

8/26 Get Er Done: The Green Beret Guide to Productivity by Michael Martel - Review with interview for Pump Up Your Book Blog Tour.

Sourcebooks (Seven more in not special order.)
Midnight on Julia Street by Ciji Ware

The Vampire Next Door by Ashlyn Chase

The Lady of the Storm by Kathryne Kennedy

Venetia by Georgette Heyer

Midnight Waltz by Jennifer Blake

Tears of Gold by Laurie McBain

Kingdom of Summer by Gillian Bradshaw (If I get time I will read the first in the the series, Hawk of May, before this.)

Reviewing for Authors:
Quest for Magic by Jean Hart Stewart - Read; review to be posted.
Seeing for the First Time (What You See is What You Get) and 

To See (What You See is What You Get) by Nicole Zoltack - Both Read; setting up author interview with reviews.

Steamrolled by Pauline Baird Jones

Sunday Words of Encouragement July 31, 2011

We celebrated communion this morning.
Pastor preached on 'Regret.'  He said regret causes people to rationale their sin, blame others or beat themselves up. Instead, we should:
>Admit our actions (sins);
>Ask forgiveness;
>Accept forgiveness;
>Believe that we are forgiven; and
>Truly forgive ourselves!

I am thankful that God has forgiven my sins and, even more, forgotten them! He wants us to live a better life  in freedom from bondage.

Pastor shared the story of Roy Riegels who picked up a fumbled football and ran for a touchdown...in the wrong direction.  At half time the coach told everyone to get back on the field. Roy refused to go because he had ruined the game. Coach Price told him, "Roy, get up and go back. The game is only half over." Roy went on to play the best he ever played.

Our lives are like that. Regrets can keep us from playing the best game of our lives. We can put our mistakes behind us and play a better game from here on.

God delivers us from sin and guilt with mercy and grace.
I am so thankful for all He has done for me.

A Verse for today:

Jeremiah 31:34

No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

I praise God for his grace and faithfulness.
I am mindful and praying for comfort today for a friend whose father went home to be with the Lord this week.

Sharing Beyond Books #7 July 30, 2011

It's Saturday night again - I had a pretty good week and hope you did too!  Thanks for all of your answers. :-)

The greater majority of the fourteen responders DO NOT take notes. A couple take notes for school books - to be expected. Only three of us consistently take notes. 

I enjoyed learning about the industries of our different home regions.  Surprisingly half of us live in states/regions that are known for tourism. Wouldn't it be fun if we could visit each other. *BG*

Only two of us give second chances to books... not counting classics as several said they would try to re-read a classic.  It sounded like most would try to finish a book they chose but some have that system of so many pages and if they aren't enjoying it - shut it goes.  The consensus seems to be "SO MANY BOOKS - TOO LITTLE TIME!"

The Winner from SBB #6 comments is: #7 LOUISA.  There are still 9 'love' books to pick from, 8 Christmas choices (I miscounted last week) and 5 Summer titles below. So Louisa - please choose a book from the remaining Love Books List for Giveaway or remaining Christmas Giveaway Books or the summer books and let me know your choice, your address and a choice of bookmarks by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #7 Questions
 

Q1.  This is a follow up to one of last week's questions. One or two may have mentioned it but most did not. Will you give an AUTHOR a second chance if you didn't like one book?

I would like to say yes but I am slow to give that second chance. I enjoyed an audio book by a very popular romance author. Then about seven years ago I read a book where the heroine had no cell phone even though the story was set in 2000 and she had reason to need protection.  But what really bothered me was typos and one page where the character names were totally wrong and it seemed that half the page was from a different book.  It took five years for me to try the author again. I picked up one of her early works and that book read like a Peyton Place - ugh not my cup of tea.  I think I will try her again -sometime- but on one of the more current books.

Q2. How many are in  your 'close family'?

My Dad is still with us at 87, plus my stepmom.  I have two older brothers (5) and (3) and an older sister (8). The number in parenthesis is the total with their spouses and children.  My DH and I have four  children (two are his from first marriage and two are ours).  Our daughter makes 5 with hubby and 3 children and our son is now 2 with his new wife. YAY.  So counting those three generations (Grandparent, parent, child) and not including the great grand kids or grand nieces and nephews I have 30!  This picture was a get together in March for my Dad's birthday. It is most of the clan (including niece and nephew spouses and kids). Missing were my brother and his family (Californians), two nephews and my son who was in Texas at the time.  

Q3. This week Louisa asks:  Why did you start reading (and owning books) at a larger rate then people who don't love books as much as we do? And when?  [DO NOT TELL US FAVORITE AUTHORS/COLLECTIONS in this answer as that is a question for another day!]

I would say I started collecting books in college but because I moved often I only had one box of old romance and mysteries left when I got married in 1985. In 2001 (when my kids were old enough to be interested in their friends more than family) I started reading again and keeping a reading list. There were certain authors I really liked so I started collecting favorite authors. And of course I would buy books on sale at thrift shops - who can resist a book for $1.00 or better for $0.25!!! My collections have grown and grown. The number?  Definitely over 1000 although I haven't counted lately.

This is my primary bookshelf 

but I have boxes in my closet, my bedroom,
on two walls of the spare bedroom 

plus more in the office.

~~~~

I see some interesting questions coming up...some are multiple ?s and I may break them up.   Thanks! DON'T FORGET any of you might have good questions you'd like to ask. Input suggestions in this Suggested Question Form.  At the end of each month I will draw from the suggestions I used the month before and that person will get a book choice or GC.
Questions were provided in July by Jennifer, faith hope cherrytea, winnie and Louisa. Random.org chose #2 so faith hope cherrytea gets to pick a book from the Valentine, Christmas or Summer selections.

Your turn to share: 

1.  Do you give AUTHOR'S second chances?

2.  How many are in your 'close family'?

3.  Do you give books a second chance/what would make you give a book a second chance?

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the remaining  Valentine and "Love" books or the remaining Christmas Giveaway Books - there are still about 17 books available to choose from plus 5 more
in the Summer titles to choose from:

Secrets of a Summer Night (The Wallflowers, Book 1)
The one I have is hardcover.

 

One Reckless Summer: A Destiny Novel

This book is brand new, but will be gently

read if I get to read it!

Under the Boardwalk: A Dazzling Collection of All-New Summertime Love Stories (Sonnet Books)

My paperback is from 1999 and
has a beach image.

The Days of Summer: A Novel

My copy is a paperback from 2006

with a different cover.

 The Summerhouse

 Hmmm - this has a bit of magic in the plot.

 

 A Summer Affair (Calhoun Chronicles) 

I love Susan Wiggs historicals!

Six choices additional choices.

Rules: a) Must be a follower; b) Share a comment on any (or all) of the three questions above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.
I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made by Friday, August 5 at 10PM central.